Well, after all the hemming and hawing about who was going to replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right, we finally have a name. And, apparently, a signature pair of glasses to go along with it.According to James Hibberd of TV Week, Drew Carey has been signed to host the venerable game show. CBS decided to offer Carey the job after seeing his hosting skills in action on The Power of Ten. The plan is to have Carey announce the move tonight on Late Night with David Letterman.
I have to say... I don't think this is a bad choice. He's a known quantity who's relatively young, but appeals to both the younger and older demographics TPiR attracts. He will act more like himself than some plastic game show veteran or entertainment show anchor (Todd Newton and Mark Steines), but won't draw attention to himself by his mere presence (Rosie O'Donnell). I'll be curious to know how well he'll be able to handle the rules of all the different games. But at the very least, this move creates some buzz around a show that's going to be in need of buzz very soon.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-23-2007 @ 5:52PM
bd said...
Will they be upping the prizes & such as well? I never really noticed it, but they're not altogether great.
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7-23-2007 @ 5:56PM
Akbar Fazil said...
But what are the girls going to be called then? "Carey's Beauties" doesn't quite fit ;)
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7-23-2007 @ 6:07PM
Frank said...
Akbar, "Carey's Cuties", duh...
I like the choice.
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7-23-2007 @ 6:09PM
Darren said...
They could have done a lot worse. I will watch to see how it goes. He is way better then Rosie that's for sure!
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7-23-2007 @ 6:13PM
Machine said...
He's a good choice... he's got an old-school... especially when he wears the suit and glasses... but a modern comic sensibility. The Hausfraus that watch this show will love him.
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7-23-2007 @ 6:25PM
Chris said...
This is like if Jay Leno were to replace Johnny Carson....oh yeah.
Television executives have once again proven they don't know crap about television.
Just a stupid choice, sounds more like a promo for "Power Of Ten" than it sounds like hiring a new host for "The Price Is Right."
Hopefully it'll be one year and done for Drew Carey.
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7-23-2007 @ 6:37PM
ac said...
I've seen his stand-up and iprov live. It was adult but then again it was a late night act. Watching him on Whose Line I can see he has hosting ability. He also has a good image that makes him look like just a regular guy, not a fake. I think its a good choice. And maybe he'll make some buzz..... Buzz Beer (think back to his sit-com).
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7-23-2007 @ 7:25PM
David said...
Who would you have to host the show Chris? No one will ever live up to Bob Barker and this choice I think is ok.
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7-23-2007 @ 6:34PM
TVGenius said...
Makes a heck of a lot more sense than Mark Steines. Still think Marc Summers should've gotten it.
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7-24-2007 @ 10:52PM
lucyfan62 said...
I think it's a mistake to hire a celebrity to host the show. I like Drew on his own show, but I don't see him as the host of a daily game show with various games, contestants and prizes. There are a lot more game show hosts with experience who are out of work that could have used the job and not taken anything away from the actual game. A star like Carey brings his own baggage to the show that could eclipse the show itself. Hey, at least it's not Rosie (or Todd Newton), but I would have preferred Mark Steines.
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7-23-2007 @ 6:57PM
KMF said...
Terrible choice. What is up with them giving the hosting gig to some with a game show already?! I've been saying I wouldn't watch it after Bob. Only George Hamilton would have made me stay on. I'm a young gal, and I'm sorry I like the idea of a silver fox. I like the flirty old men gameshow hosts. This is why Richard Dawson was great on Family Feud, and Bob. Do I want to Come On Down, to get up on stage and kiss Drew Carey? Not on your life!
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7-23-2007 @ 7:24PM
sean tubbs said...
Good for him! I'd like to see the next host settle in for a long time, and I can imagine seeing Drew Carey age in front of our eyes as the rest of us do.
I had been hoping for the guy from Dancing with the Stars/Seinfeld, who I think could have been a more neutral presence.
Now, if he brings that damned green screen...
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7-25-2007 @ 3:08AM
Starmist said...
Great choice, Drew Carey will be a good, funny host...
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7-23-2007 @ 9:45PM
Chris said...
Really If I would have known Drew Carey would be their choice I would have said cancel the show instead.
Replacing Bob Barker is impossible. But I believe that a real M.C. should have got the job, not some comedian. I think somebody who is already famous and a known named should NOT have got the job, and that is what happend.
Look at Wheel Of Fortune, they plucked Pat Sajak out of nowhere and he is still the host of that show and hardly anybody remembers Chuck Woolery was the host before him. How many young TPIR fans know who Bill Cullen is?
They should have picked somebody who would be known first for being the host of TPIR. Not somebody who's already had their own TV show and has been famous for years.
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7-23-2007 @ 9:41PM
Ralph said...
Wow, I called it! I don't know where I posted it, but when Bob announced his retirement, I posted on a blog that Drew would be a great host.
Then again, I also picked Drew to replace Hugh Hefner when his time finally comes, so I guess I pick Drew for a lot of things.
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7-24-2007 @ 12:29AM
Brett said...
i think its great, but hey carey, give away some vipers, it looks good on tv, and some sailboats, and throw a couple of better looking silent women eh!!
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7-24-2007 @ 1:42AM
Andrew said...
I really think Drew Carey is an excellent choice as the next host of the Price Is Right. I grew-up with him in the Old Brooklyn section of Cleveland, he was and still is a great "down-to-Earth" guy! Enjoyed the Drew Carey Show for its comic innovations, enjoyed his book, and glad he's coming back to the small screen! "Carey's Babes" sounds like a good name for his female models - just waiting to hear his "end tags" on the show!
Andrew @ MALL727.net
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7-24-2007 @ 2:56PM
Nightfall said...
How come Woolery wasn't in the running for the gig? It's not like he's new to the hosting job.
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7-24-2007 @ 8:08PM
rjlawrencejr said...
KMF and Chris, while I am not totally sold on the Drew Carey idea, it is obvious neither of you were old enough to remember TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, the popular syndicated game show Barker hosted for 15 years prior to hosting TPIR. So to ask why are they giving the show to someone who is a known quantity and/or is hosting a show already is off base.
As far as Sajak hosting WHEEL, yes he was a relatively obscure weatherman at KNBC here in LA, however he was pretty popular here and known for his on-air antics such as the time he tried to fry an egg in a parking lot during a heat wave. I may br wrong about this, but i want to say he sometimes subbed for Willard Scott on TODAY. However, i have no sources to confirm that claim.
Now here's a trivia question for y'all: who replaced Sajak as host of the daytime version of WHEEL when it was still on NBC?
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7-24-2007 @ 8:49PM
Mike Davis said...
What is Rolf Benirschke, RJ.
Chris, do you think there's some MC vocational school that spontaneously generates game show hosts?
Bob Barker? Radio & yes, T or C for 18 years or so, making him someone who both on his own show for years and rather famous prior to TPIR.
Bill Cullen? Well remembered by game show fans, thank you. Memorable?
Well, he was on the short list of contenders for hosting duties of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? but producers had to stand down as Bill had been dead for several years.
Now THAT'S staying power, baby.
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